Means for retaining pianolas in position before keyboard musical instruments.



No. 729.977. PATENTED JUNE 2, 1903.

Y J. B. TRACY. MEANS FOR RETAINING PIANOL AS IN POSITION BEFORE KEYBOARD MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII m. a. 1902.

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I; a /M"" MIMI" 6 ms ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES Patented June 2, i963.

PATENT IKOFFICE.

JAMES B. TRACY, OF MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE AEOLIAN COMPANY, OF NEIV YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

MEANS FOR RETAINING PIANOLAS'IN POSITION BEFORE KEYBOARD MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 729,977, dated June 2, 1903- Application filed February 3, 1902. Serial No. 92,290. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES B. TRACY, a citi- V zen of the United States, residing in the city of Meriden, county of New Haven, and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means forRetaining Pianolas in Position Before Keyboard Musical Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to means for retaining a pianola in playing position before a keyboard musical instrument.

My invention comprises plungers, one provided at each end of the pianola, means for moving each plunger, and plates carried by the keyboard musical instrument with which the plungers are adapted to coact. The plates are adapted to'act as guides for the plungers when the pianola is placed in position before the keyboard instrument to center the pianola in proper position.

I will describe a means for retaining the pianola in playing position before a keyboard musical instrument and then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view of aportion of a keyboard musical instrument and a pianola in playing position before said instrument, partly in vertical section to show retaining means embodying my invention. Figs. 2 and 3 are each detail views of parts comprised in the retaining means.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all of the figures.

A designates the manual-keys of a keyboard musical instrument, and A that part of the framework or case over which the keys are located.

B designates the case of a mechanism for operating upon the keys A, here shown as being in the form of a pianola. It comprises a number of strikers B for extending over the keys, and these strikers are adapted to be operated in any desired manner by mechanism contained within the case.

At each end of the case B, I provide a plunger C, having a conical or other tapered and pointed end 0. Each plunger is adapted to be moved in and out of the case B through an opening 0, provided in a wall I) of the case. The mechanism for moving the plunger is here shown as consisting of a bell-crank lever 0 fulcrumed at 0 upon a bracket 0 fastened to the case B, a link 0 connected with an arm d et the bell-crank lever, and a screw 0 The screw is carried by a collar 0 which serves as a support for the screw in a wall of the case B. The screw is held from longitudinal movement in said collar by any suitable means; The screw is so formed at its outer end as to receive a key or crank 0 by means of which the screw is given rotary movement. The arm 0 of the bell-crank lever has a loose connection with the plunger C. As here shown, the arm 0 fits in a cut-out portion 0 provided in the plunger, and is held between two edges or points 0 one provided at the top and the other at the bottom of the cutout portion o It will be seen, therefore, that when rotary motion is imparted to the screw 0 the bell-crank lever will be swung on its pivot to move the plunger C either in or out of the case, according to which direction. the screw is turned. The plunger in its movement works in guides which are secured to the case B. When the pianola is not in playing position, the plunger C is moved into the case, or it may have its end 0 flush with the top of the wall I) of the case.

Coacting with each plunger is a plate D, which is adapted to besecured to the case A immediately under the keys A. Screws may be used to secure the plates to the case A, and screw-openings d are therefore provided in the plates. The plate D is here shown as having two flanges or ribs cl arranged at an angle to each other and connected at their converging ends. The divergent ends form an entrance or mouth 61 to the space between the two flanges. At about where the two flanges d meet on each plate a depression 01 is made in the plate, which depression will correspond with the end '0 of the plunger. The flanges of the plates D serve as guides for the plungers when the pianola is to be moved to a playing position and serveto direct the plungers to the depression (1 When the plungers are in line with the depressions, the plungers are forced into the depressions, and thus securely hold the pianola from any movement.

The plates may conveniently be triangular in shape and the flanges 01 provided at two sides of the plates.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is a 1. A means for guiding a pianola into playing position before a keyboard instrument and detachably holding it in such position comprising a plunger supported on the pianola, a plate secured on the keyboard instrument and having a pair of converging guideflanges and a depression between them at their convergent ends, said flanges serving to guide the plunger into position to enter'said depression; and means for moving said plunger'into and out of said depression, substantially as set forth. L

2. A means for guiding a pianola into playing position before a keyboard instrument and detachably holding it in such position comprising a plunger supported on the pianola, a plate secured on the keyboard instrument and having a pair of converging guideflanges and a depression between them at their convergent ends, said flanges serving to guide the plunger into position to enter said depression, a bell-crank lever fulcrumed on the pianola and having one arm loosely connected to the plunger, and a screw connected to the other arm of the said lever and operative to rock the said 'lever for moving the plunger into and out of the depression, substantially as set forth. 5

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES B. TRACY.

Witnesses:

WM. 0. MUELLER, W. K. BRIGHAM, 

